Serial punching and card counting apparatus for use with perforating machines



June 5, 1945. Q A 2,377.79] SERIAL 'PUNCHING AND CARD COUNTING APPARATUS v FOR USE WITH PERFORATING MACHINES Filed Dec. a, 1945 a Sheets-Sheet l June 5, 1945. c LAKE 2,377,791

SERIAL PUNCHING AND CARD COUNTING APPARATUS FOR USE WITH PERFORATING MACHINES I Filed Dec. 8, 1943 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY June 5, 1945. c. D. LAKE 2,377,791

SERIAL PUNCHING AND CARD COUNTING APPARATUS FOR USE WITH PERFORATING MACHINES Filed Dec. 8. 1943 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 fau' i I W MZW A'i'ToRNEY TUS INES June 1945- c. o. LAKE SERIAL PUNCHING AND CARD COUNTING APPARA FOR USE WITH PERFORATING' MACH Filed Dec. 8. 1943 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENT R 5% flpr 'BY AITTORNEY a She ets-Sheet s A m mrE Mum C. D. LAKE 5) 9? m mm,

:EW EWE Filed Dec. 8. 1943 "bow 41 HE 510 SERIAL PUNCHING AND CARD COUNTING APPARATUS FOR USE WITH PERFORATING MACHINES 30m 4 2 BR,

Jx me 5 0. 53 SN g TTORNEY June 5, 1945. c. D. LAKE 2,377,791

' SERIAL PUNCHING AND CARD COUNTING APPARATUS FOR USE WITH PERFORATING MACHINES Filed Dec. 8, 1943 8 SheetsSheet 6 CQL X MA5TER V-V BM 0% .Fune 5, 1945. c. o. LAKE SERIAL PUNCHING AND CARD COUNTING APPARATUS FOR USE WITH PERFORATING MACHINES Filed Dec. 8, 1943 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 but 03 ATTORNEY.

June 5, 1945. c. D. LAKE SERIAL PUNCHING AND CARD COUNTING APPARATUS FOR USE WITH PERFORATING MACHINES Filed Dec. 8, 1943 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented June 5, 1945 7 SERIAL PUNCHING AND CARD COUNTING APPARATUS FOR USE WITH PERFOBAT- ING MACHINES Clair n. LakeIBinghamton, N. Y., assignorto International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 8, 1943, Serial No. 513,361

17 Claims. (Cl. 164-115) The serial character punching and card counting apparatus comprising the present invention is primarily adapted for use in connection with card perforating machines of the type shown and described in my prior U. S. Patent No. 2,032,805,

granted March 3, 1936, and is designed as an attachment to existing machines of nature.

It is frequently desirable to have serial numbers represented upon cards that are otherwise punched or operated upon in a perforating machine, such as the high-speed reproducing perforating machine shown in my prior patent referred to above. Toward this end, the present invention contemplates the provision of an apparatus which will effect such serial representation automatically with but slight modification of the original perforating machine. v

This, the principal object of the invention, is carriedout by the provision of a series of registering counters, each representing a different digthis general ital order of a current serial number to be repreties for perforating the cards serially in the columns thereof which are selected for serial punching. 1 W

The present serial punching apparatus is capable of other uses, among the most important of which is its-use in connection with perforating machines of the type set forth above as a means for automatically stopping the machine when a predetermined number of cards have been fed through the latter and operated upon. by the punch instrumentalities. The apparatus is capable of such use without any modification thereof whatsoever other than the performance of certain circuit-changing functions by the operator of the machine and, when the apparatus is so used, its normal serial punching operations are inoperative or not as desired. Y L

An additional object of the invention is to provide means whereby the variouspunch-controlling registering counters may individually be set to any desired indication, each independently of the others by the'simpleexpedient of manually and passing through the perforating machinemay commence with a selected serial number.

' A still further object of the invention, in a modified form thereof, is to provide means whereby the registering counters may collectively be reset to their zero indication by the simple ex-' pedient ofmanually depressing a single reset key. Perforating machines of the type set forth in my above mentioned patent are capable of various types of perforating operations, and reference may be had to this patent for a full description of all the uses to which the machine may beput.

Briefly, however, such machines are capable of,

and may be conditioned for, simple reproducing aoirespond to the original cards. As the cards are fed from the hoppers, a master card and an associated 'detail card are moved in synchronism through a sensing station and a punching station respectively and, by means fully set forth in the above mentioned patent, the perforations appear ing in the master cards at the sensing station are reproduced in the detail cards at corresponding positions therein at the punching station, both the sensing and punching operations taking place simultaneously in successive transverse lines .of

'- index point positions in the respecitve' cards.

directed to either of two fields on the detail card,

repetitiously depressing a corresponding reset key,

' in order that serial number punching of the cards class elimination wherein data on the master card is eliminated from the detail card, or field selection wherein data appearing in either of two fields on the master card is directed to a single field on the detail card, all as described in the above mentioned patent.

The machine may be conditioned for ga punching wherein aperforated master card is placed at the bottom of the hopper beneath a stack of detail cards which are to receive the data appearing on the master card. The master card is then fed through the punching station and over to the sensing station. The first detail card-following the master card is fed through the punch-V ing station to the sensing station. The punches are operated under control of the sensing brushes to punch the detail card as a duplicate of the master card. This operation continues as the following cards are fed through the sensing station to punched.

The machine may be conditioned so that a number of master cards may be interspersed between the detail cards for successive gang punching operations of more than one group of cards in a single stack thereof. In such an instance, the master card is provided with a special per-, foration in a selected column thereof which operates to control devices for discontinuing or dis-' abling punching between groups while the incoming master card passes through the punching station untouched and over to the sensing station. 4

The machine may also be conditioned for combined gang punching and reproducing control operations. In such instances, the detail cards are perforated with data from two sources, namely, the master card which precedes them and the detail cards which accompany them. Several gro ips of detail cards may be gang punched with continuous feeding without stopping the machine when each interspersed master card is encountered. Such functions are made possible because, when a master card is encountered ahead of the punching station, control is exercised by a special perforation in this card to hold up the feeding of cards for one card feeding cycle to allow the master card to proceed to the sensing station before combined gang punching is continued.

The improved serial punching apparatus of the present invention is capable of performing its serial punching operations on successive cards fed through the punching machine when the machine is conditioned for any of the above described functions. It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide an apparatus of the type set forth aboveand having registering counters for controlling the punch instrumentalities of the perforating machine which are indexed one digit each time a detail card is fed from the hopper containing it, in order that the control exerted upon the punching instrumentalities at the time of the punching of the next detail card will result in the serial punching of that card with the next higher digital number. It is also an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of this character wherein when master cards are interspersed between'the various detail cards con- 2,877,793. provide a serial punching apparatus in which two types of control may be exerted thereover to accommodate master cards which are characterized either by the presence or the absence of special or X-perforations in a selected colunm thereof. According to the present invention, these two types of control are commonly referred to as X-master" and "X-detail respectively. It is, therefore, a, similar object of the invention to provide a serial punching apparatus having provision for X-master and X-detail control as Just described, in which the apparatus may be converted from one type of control to the other without necessitating modification of the apparatus and by the simple expedient of circuit alteration utilizing circuit control switches.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a serial punching apparatus having register: ing control counters for the machine punching instrumentalities, including novel means whereby carry operations are effected electrically from each counter to the counter representing the next highest digital order of the serial number.

. According to one form of the invention, carry optamed-within the hopper the counters are actuated so that serial punching of the master cards when they are encountered will be eliminated and subsequently resumed when the next detail card is fed from the hopper, in order that the detail cards of the various groups may have represented thereon an uninterrupted sequence of serial numbers.

The master cards which are interspersed between the detail cards for successive gang punching operations of more than one group of cards sometimes contain a special perforation to exercise the special functions above outlined. These special perforations are commonly referred to as X"-perforations and they may appear in any desired-column of index point positions. Where these special perforations appear in the master cards they are absent in the detail cards. Sometimes the master cards may be identified by the absence of an X-perforatlon in the selected column, while the detail cards are identified as containing such an X-perforation in a selected column. It is a further object of the invention to erations are effected by means of a novel form of carry commutator and brush unit, whereas in a modified'form of the invention these carry operations are effected by a novel form of electrical transfer contact, the basic principle of accumulating remaining substantially the same in each instance.

Other objects and advantages of the invention not at this time enumerated will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood.

In the accompanying eight sheets of drawings forming a part of this specification, two embodiments of the invention are shown. In these drawings: I

Fig. 1 is a. side elevational view of a perforating machine showing the improved serial punching and card counting apparatus applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken sub. stantially centrally of the machine shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the improved serial punching and card counting apparatus, showing the same mounted upon a perforating machine whose operation it controls for serial number punching purposes.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3.

. Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of the apparatus with a portion of the apparatus casing removed to more clearly reveal the nature of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line l--'I of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8,is a sectional view taken substantially a wiring diagram of one form of the machine.

' Figs. 10, -11 and 13, taken together, constitute a wiring diagram of a modified form of the machine. I

Fig. 14 represents a time chart illustrating the cyclic operation of the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 12 inclusive. v

Fig. 15 is a sectional view similar to Figs. 7, 8 and 9 showing a modified form of a registering device employed in connection with the presessential working parts. of a high-speed reproducing perforating machine constructed according to the principles set forth in my U. 8. Patent No. 2,032,805 above referred to are shown in Figs,

1 and 2. Reference may be had to this patent for a full and comprehensive understanding of the various machine parts and functions thereof, as well as of the operation of the device as' a whole. Briefly, however, and for the purpose of illustration in connection with the present invention, a" number of master cards ID are contained in a hopper R and an additional group of blank, record or detail cards II are contained in a hopper P. The cards are fed singly and concurrently from both hoppers and are then shifted in. synchronism through sensing and punching stations before being deposited in stackers if and If.

Upon leaving the-hopper R, each master card M st encounters a master sensing brush it, then a line of sensing brushes it, and finally a series of checking brushes it. The detail cards it upon leaving the hopper P each pass a master sensing brush til, then a line of punches it and finally a set of checking brushes it. The p cit cooperates with a special perforation in the original or master card it and when such a perforation is sensed a class selection operation may talre place to shift the sensed data to a selected field on the record or detail card. The brush it is used for field selection of gang punching and also for.control of suspension of ter card feeding when the machine is condltioned for combined gang punching and reproduci.

Electrical connections exist between the line of. brushes ill and the line of punches it so that when a perforation is sensed in. a master card it, a. perforation is punched in the related detail card it in a corresponding position. After the cards have passed the first sensing and punching stations respectively, they enter separate check-Q. iiig stations. In these stations the master card it" is sensed by the checking brushes it at the e time that the related detail card is sensed by the checking brushes it. If the perforations in both cards do not agree, the machine is stopped and a in or other signal (not shown) indicates the error. r

ere straight gang punching: operations are concerned. the hopper R is not used and only that section of the machine to the right of the 'hopper P is employed. A previously punched master card is placed at the bottom of the hopper P and'from there it is fed under the punches W and over to the brushes iii.v For gang punching operations these latter brushes have a functlon other than checking. They are electrically connected to the punches it and when a perforation is sensed in a master card or a detail card following thereafter, the next following de tail card is perforated by the punches M to duplicate the data appearing on the preceding 5 card. In this manner anentire group or stack record cards in the hopper P. The following operations are substantially the same as with a single group, the onlydiii'erence in operation being that when an interspersed master card passes under the punches l8 such a card is not punched under the control of its preceding card H at the end of the preceding group. For this purpose, the master sensing brush ll is adapted to sense special perforations appearing in the master cards and prevent punching until the master card is situated in registry with the checking brushes l9.

For combined reproducing and gang punching operations, both sections of the machine are used. The cards II are operated upon as previously described, the only diflerence being that a number of the punches 18 are controlled by the master card I and brushes I5, while the others of the punches Iii are controlled by the gang punching master card and brushes is. In such an instance, only certain of the brushes it and iii are used for checking purposes.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 wherein the driving connections of the machine are shown, a motor M is mounted above the base it of the machine which also carries a pair of main side frames it. The motor is connected by a driving belt it too, pulley it on a shaft 25 suitably mounted in hearings in the frames it. Fixed to the shaft is a tear it which serves to drive all of the continuously running instrumentalities of the chine. Suitable gearing designated in its entirety at it extends between the driving gear it and a relatively large punch clutch driving gear it which is'pivoted on a punch feed drive shaft iii and attached to another driving gear lit. Gear connections are provided between the punch clutch under the hopper P and another clutch under the hopper it so that cards may be fed in synchronism from both hoppers. The gear t2 meshes with another gear it pivoted as at lit. This gear lit in turn meshes with a similar gear at pivoted as at it. The gear as meshes with a reproducer clutch driving gear it mountedon a shaft The gear ill meshes with a gear til secured to a shaft ill and thus this I a tit shown in Fig. ii and which constitutes an of cards ll may be gang punched under the"- control of the single leading master card. Where gang punching operations are performed successively upon different groups of cards; a number of master cards are interspersed in the detail actuating device for a pair of contacts Cit, the function of which will be set forth fully hereinafter.

The gear iii (Fig. i) has secured thereto a clutch disc All (Fig. 2) provided with a'notch it.

Cooperating with the notch lid is a pawl fit mounted on an arm til attached to the shaft at. One end of the pawl is engaged by an armature latch it and the other end of the pawl is formed with an extension hi2 adapted to fall into the notch it. A spring lit normally holds the armature latch ill in engagement with the pawl it, but when an associated magnet RCM is energized the latch is moved away from the pawl, thus connecting the shaft as to the driving gear at.

The shaft it is provided with an eccentric it for operating card feed picker slides it. Encircling the eccentric is a strap M which receives a reciprocating motion for each rotation of the shaft 38. The strap is formed with an ear plvotaliyattached to an. arm 82 which also carries a pair of gear sectors 64. The sectors 65 a clutch pawl 84 which cams by meahs'of which the the above described connections for the reproducer clutch that when the magnet RCM is energized the picker knife 88 is moved to the right,

feed roller .88 which also carries a small gear I28 in mesh with a similar gear I22 on the. associated roller82. A small gear I24 on the roller II8 drives a similar gear I28 on an associated An idler gear I28 meshes with the roller III. gear I28 and drives a contact roller I38 through i a gear I32 mounted thereon. Another idler gear thus bringing the bottom master card I8 in the hopper R into cooperation with a pair of feeding rollers /88 and I8. Such a feeding action occurs during each cycle of operation when the machine is employed for straight reproducing.

The feeding rollers 88 andII8 are driven by a gear I2 (Fig. 1) mounted on the shaft 38 and in mesh with a gear I4 carried on the roller 88. A smaller gear I8 on the roller 88 cooperates with a similar gear I8 on the roller I8 so that both rollers are turned simultaneously but oppositely. The rollers 88 and I8 extend across the machine between the side frames 2| and the roller 88 is slotted at various column positions to permit proper placement of the master brush I4 in any desired position. These rollers, when turning, draw a card from beneath the hopper R and feed it to the right between the brushes 4 and I8 and over into other feeding roller 88 and 82.

A contact roller 84 is associated with the brushes I5 and is driven by gear connections from the feed roller 88, the gear I8 on the roller 88 meshing with an idler gear 88 which, in turn, meshes with a gear 88 on the contact roller 84.

The punch clutch under the hopper P is operated when connections are established between I34 meshes with the gear I24 and serves to drive a pinion I38 mounted on acard'deflecting eject roller I38.

A plurality of punch feeding rollers m, m,

I44 and I48 are suitably geared and are driven from the driving gear 28 for feeding cards under the punch 'plungers I8. Suitable connections also extend from the gear 28 to the Geneva drive, previously referred to, for applying intermittent movement to the cards passing through the punching station. These driving'connecmotions are fully disclosed in my above mentioned patent. i

The connection Just referredto for the Geneva drive mechanism includes a clutch between the Geneva gear wheel proper and the feed rollers so that feeding may be preventedwhen cards the punch feed drive shaft 3| and the punch clutch driving gear 21. Attached to the gears 21 and 32 is a notched disc 88 which is loosely mounted on the shaft 3|. Adjacent the disc 88 is an arm 92 fixed to the shaft 3| and carrying is pivoted thereon. The pawl has an extension adapted to fit into the notch in the disc 88 and is normally urged into engagement with the disc by a spring 98. However, thepaw1 is held disengaged by an armature are not to be punched.

The clutch mechanism is so designed that if the magnet PCM (Fig.1)

is not energized there is no driving connection to the Geneva wheel arrangement, and if this latter magnet is energized the usual driving connection is existent. A gear I48 meshes with two gears I88 and I82 on the feed rollers I48 and I44 respectively.- An idler gear I84 between the gear I82 and another gear I88 forms the driving connections over, to a feed roller I88 on which the gear I88 is mounted. A small gear I I88 on the roller I48 cooperates with a similar gear I82 on the roller I42. The same sort of gear latch 98 which engages-an extending arm on the pawl. When the punch clutch magnet PCM is energized, the associated armature is attracted and the latch 88 is rocked to the left about a pivot 188, thus releasing the pawl 94 and connecting the shaft 3| to the driving gears.

.When the shaft 3| is operated, certain drivmg connections are rendered operative to actuate a card picker mechanism under the hopper P, which is similar to,the previously described card. picker mechanism under which is generally designated character I82. Additionally, a tion exists between the shaft 3| and the checking station feed rollers. A third driving connection exists between the shaft 3| and operates to release a clutch connection in a, Geneva gear drivewhereby intermittent motion of the card is brought about as previously described. These driving connections are not fully disclosed in the accompanying drawings, but reference may be had to my prior patent above referred to for a full disclosure thereof.

A gear I84 mounted on the. shaft 3| meshes with a gear I88 mounted on the same stud 34 with the gear 33. The gear I88 meshes with a gear I 88 attached to a feed roller I I8. Anothergear 2 on the feed roller 8 meshes with a gear 4 attached. to a shaft 8 which carries a series of I cam contacts PI (Fig. 10) are operated. The with a gear II 8 attached to the the pper R and by the reference driving connec- (Fig. 11)- and P2 Bear 4 meshes connection is made between a pair of gears I84 and I88 on the rollers I44 and I48 and between gears I88 and "8 on the roller I88 and its as-' sociated roller I88.

, An idler gear |I2 connects the gear I84-to a gear "4 on a contact roller "8. Another idler gear "8 meshes with the gear I88 and a pinion I 88 attached to a card reject roller I82. In the operation of theperforating machine, whens cards I8 are placed in the group of master hopper R, the bottom card depresses a hopper contactlever RHL closing the associated consame time the card passes between the brushtacts RHC of Fig. l0. Subsequently, when the picker mechanism is operated 'the bottom card alone is forced through the throat I84 and placed between the feed rollers 88 and I8 which feed the card along the machine. I

Upon entering the sensing station, the card engages and operates a card lever RCLl. At the I4 and a contact plate I88., From there the'card Passes between the brushes I8 and the contact roller 84, and at the'same time operates a card lever RCL2. Common contact brushes I88 carry the sensing current to' the roller 84. The

brushes I8 are arranged in a single line.

' The card passes on to the feed rollers 88 and 82, which feed it between a pair of guide plates- |88 and 82. A card lever CHCL is operated as .the card passes between the checking brushes I8 and contact roller I38. After leaving the brushes 8, the card is engaged by the rollers H8 and III which s'erve to eject the card to the stacker I2 wherein the cards are supported on the top of a depressible spring plunger I84.

The brush I4 is adjustable along the length of the card in order that it may cooperate with any column therein.

-trical instrumentalities in this figure.

mechanism I02, the bottom card passes through a throat I98 and is placed between the feed rollers I40 and I42 which feed the card along between the brush l1 and contact bar 300. As

the card passes, it operates a card lever DCL. The brush I1 is adjustable in the same manner .as the brush I4.. After leaving the masterca'rd sensing station, the card is fed between a stripper plate 302 and die plate 304 and enters between the feed rollers I44 and I46, which latter rollers feed it between guide plates 306. A card lever PCL is operated as the card passes between the sensing brushes-I9 and contact rollers I16. An insulation block 3I0 holds contact brushes it in contact with the roller I16. When the card leaves the brushes it is engaged by the rollers I58 and I59 which eject it past the dechine shown inFigs. i. and 2 are illustrated in Figs. 10 and l1. Reference may be had to my 'prior patent .above referred to for a description of such circuit connections as' are employed when the machine is to be used in straight cardior-card reproducing. The present description will be confined to use of the machine for straight gang punching utilizing only the hopper P, and wherein all oi the cards contained in this hopper are punched according to the data appearing on an underlying master card,

and for group gang punching wherein various master cards are interspersed between the detailcards for successive gang punching opera tions of more than one group of cards. It will be understood that the improved serial punching device comprising the present invention cooperates with the above described perforating machine in thesame identical manner, regardless of whether the perforating machine is used for such gang punching, for straight card-for-card reproducing, for class selection, class elimination, field selection or for combined gang punching or reproducing control. In Fig. 10, insofar as practicable, reference characters similar to those employed in my above mentioned patent have been applied to the corresponding elec- 7 In the ensuing description, only snch'electrlcal parts as are pertinent to the invention under consideration have been referred to.

when it is desired to use the machine for straight gang punching a master card is inserted lines 200 and MI. The cards in the hopper P actuate the lever PHL, close contacts PEG and energize magnet M4 through a circuit from the line 200,; wire 202, bar 203, magnet M4, wire 204,' contacts PHC and wire 205 to line 20I. The start key ST is depressed and a circuit may be traced from line 200, wire 206, magnet MRM, wire 201, magnet MI, normally closed contacts C2, normally open start key contacts STC, wire 208, switch RS3 in its oil position, wires 209 and M0, stop key contacts SPC, contacts. MB and wire 2i I to line 20i.'. The energized motor relay magnet MRM closes. contacts MR0 and operates the motor M through wires 2I2, 2I3 and 2I4 between themain lines. The other energized magnet Mi closes contacts'iA to hold the circuit for most of the cycle, and closes contacts IE to energize the punch clutch magnet'PCM. The holding eir: cult is traced from line 200 through wire 20B, magnet MRM, wire 201', magnet MI, contacts in, wire 2I5, contacts 03 closed until near and of tyne, and wire 2 I6 to line 20i. "The clutch magnet circuit runs from line 200 through punchclutch magnet PCM, wire 2 ill, switch RSI at "off", upper contacts 0A, wire 2 I9, contacts iB, wire 220, contacts Ci and wire 22i to line 2M. Through the clutch connection thus made, the punch picker mechanism I02 is'operated to feed the master card out of the hopper P and between the punch and die at the punching station. During this first card cycle, the card operates the die card lever DCL and closes contacts ml, which in turn close a circuit from line tilt through magnets M2 and Mt, wire 222, contacts DUI! and wire keep running and cards will be fed from the hopper P as 10 as they are present or until stop key 8P0 is manually depressed.

During the second card fee cycle, which takes place automatically, the master car between the die and punches over to the sensing the ' station at the same time that the first detail card at the bottom of a group of detail cards contained in the hopper P and all the reproducing switches RSI, RSLRSi and EMS are set to the "on" position because-the reproducing station is not used during this type of operation; When the switch P5 is closed, the machine is connected to the source of electricalenergy through the two main immediately following the master card is moving from the hopper P to the punching station. Next, the punch card lever PCL'is card operated and contact Pct is closed completing a circuit from lineiti through the impulse distributor contacts Cit which are closed to sense each in- .dex point position, through contacts" PCi, wire 225, contacts Pi closed throughout punching, common contact brush ii i, common contact roller iit, sensing brushes it, plug board jacks Pi,

plug wires (not shown) to plug board Jacks Ji, through the punch control magnet PM, common bar 220, upper contacts IOAU, X-master switch XS, and line 200. The mastercard moves in synchronism witlrthe' detail card, the iormergoinz under the brushes J9 and. the latter under punches controlled by magnets PM. All theholes punched mith master card will be punched in station. Thus, the newly punched detail card acts as a master card to control the punching oi the second detail card, and the second card controls the punching of the third, etc., until all of the detail cards are similarly gang punched.

The arrangement of parts thus far described is, with the exception of a few circuit changes that will be pointed out presently, more or less conventional in its design and no claim is made herein to any novelty associated therewith, the novelty of this application residingrather in the serial punching apparatus by means or which successive serial numbers are applied to successive detail cards, while at the same time these cards are perforated by the punches PM to duplicate other data appearing on the preceding cards.

Ii more than one group of cards, and more that one master card, are placed in the punch hopper P at one time, it is necessary to have the interspersed master cards punched with a special perforation at the ll index point positions of the card in some predetermined, column and the brush ll adjustably set to sense that column. Then the switch PMS should be set to the on position. This is done to prevent the punching of an interspersed master card under control of th last card of the previous group. As the master card feeds into the punch station, the brush i1 is permitted to close a circuit early in the cycle and thereby energize the control magnet Mill through a circuit leading from line 21, wire 229, contacts C5 which become closed as the special perforation position is sensed, wire 238,-contact bar 23! and the bar 232 connected thereto, brush l1, switch PMS, contacts 3A which are closed when a card is in the punching station, wire 233, magnet MID, magnet Ml I, bar 230 and wire 235 to line 200. The energized magnet MID closes contacts IDA to establish a. holding circuit and operates contactslllB to set up another circuit. The holding circuit exists from line 2% through wire 235, bar 234, magnets MI I and Mill, contacts IOA,

' wire 236, contacts P2 which are held closed until the next cycle, wire 237 and wire 229 to line The energization of the magnet MN is for the purpose of opening the contacts HA to deenergize the reproducting feed clutch magnet RCM. This is done to prevent feeding of a detail card with a master card during combined gang punching and reproducing.

The other circuit through contacts lflB exists from line 200, wire 235, bar 234, magnet Ml2, wire 238, contacts lllB, wire 239, contacts C1 which are closed early in the cycle, and wire 229 to line 21". The energized magnet M|2 closes contacts IZA to establish a holding circuit from line 200, wire 235, bar 234, magnet Ml2, contacts,

I2A, i e 2, contacts. P3 which are held closed during the punching cycle, wire 242, wire 23! and wire 229 to line 20!.

The circuitsthus far described in connection perforating machine, it is likewise deemed unnecessary to trace the various electrical circuits by means of which these checking functions are made possible. The serial numberingdevice operates substantially the same in all of these instances and for an understanding of the complete operation of the high-speed reproducing perforating machine under these conditions reference may be made to my prior patent above referred to.

Referring now to Figs. 3 to 9 inclusive, l2 and l3, the mechanical details of the improved serial numbering device are shown in the former group of figures, i. e. 3 to 9, while the electrical circuit connections therefor are shown in Figs. 12 and 13. Fig. 12 illustrates the circuit connections for one form of the invention wherein the electrical readout registering devices representing different digital order numbers of a serial number may be individually set, while Fig. 13 represents a modified form of the invention wherein a quick resetting feature i involved, by means of which all of these registering devices may automatically, by the simple expedient of depressing a reset key, be reset to zero indication.

Referring now to Figs. 3 to 9 inclusive, and specifically to Fig. 3, the serial number resetting apparatus involves in its general organization a box-like casing or housing 498 including a brackat 462 having a horizontal portion 662 providing a bottom wall or base and capable of being attached to a stationary portion 405 of the perforating machine by means of suitably disposed attachment bolts 206 or the like. A bracket M1 servesto support the rear portion of the housin 400 and is secured to the latter by means of studs 409. The housing "400 is provided with a rear wallmlB, a topwall M0, side walls ill and 3 respectively, a vertical front wall M2 and an inclined front wall M4 constituting the operating board or panel of the apparatus. A plurality of mechanically independent but electrically as sociated registering devices are each designated in its entirety at AIS. These units have been labeled in Fig. 12 as RCI, RC2, RC3, RC4, RC5 and RC6, and correspond to the units, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten-thousands and hundredthousands digits respectively of the serial numbars to be applied to successive cards passing through the perforating machine. While any suitable number of these devices may be employed, depending upon the magnitude of the highest serial number to be employed for serial numbering purposes, six such registering devices have been disclosed in the accompanying drawlugs and these have been additionall labeled U, T, H,TH, TTH and I-ITH, reading from right to left in Fig. 6, to represent the various digital orders of the serial numbers in units, ten, hundreds, thousands, ten-thousands and hundredthousands. The units 6 are substantially idenwith the wiring diagram 01- Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate the use of the apparatus where straight gangpunching and group gang punching are employed. Since the operation of the improved.

gp erial numbering device in no manner alters the flreviously mentioned checking functions of the tical in construction and it is thought that a description of one thereof will suiiice for them all. The units 6 are all mounted upon a common horizontal shaft 8 suitably supported across the side walls I and H3 of the housing 3. Each unit 6 comprises a substantially cupshaped shell 42!], the rim 422 of which has marked thereon externallyin any suitable manner anumber of indicla 424 (Fig. 5) corresponding to the ten numerals of the Arabic system, and thus these cup-shaped shells 42! in general resemble usual cyclometer wheels of an ordinary vecder mechanism. However, these units, instead of being mechanically coupled together for carry operations, are electrically coupled in a read-out devices RCI, RC2 and RC3 includes a brush carrying rotor 430 having a body portion formed of insulating material in which there is embedded a brush holder 434 which carries a pair of read-out brushes 438, and a pair of brush holders 438, each of which latter holders serves to retain a pair of carry brushes 440. A pair of diametrically" opposed rivets 442 project completely through a spacing disc 444, which also constitutes a ratchet wheel designed for driving or indexing purposes, the shell 420 the rotor 43!] and'a spacing collar 44B'and serves to hold the various parts of the rotor and shell 420 together for rotation in unison; The spacing disc or gear 444 is mounted upon a reduced portion 448 provided on the sleeve 426, while the spacing collar 446 is received within a groove 450 formed in the sleeve 426. The various sleeves 426 abut against each other in end-to-end relationship and thus each of the units M6 is securely held against lateral shifting on the shaft 4l8.' A stationary commutator 452 formed of insulating material and of ring-like design surrounds each of the rotors 430 and is provided with a series of readout segments 454 labeled 0 to 8 inclusive in Fig. 8,-

Each commutator 452 is also provided with a .pair of carry segments 458 (Fig. 9) and a pair of stop segments 460, each pair of segments being designed for bridging contact by the pair of brushes 440 for special carry and stop operations in a manner that will be set forth presently.

The two denominational order units of the read-out device representing the thousands and ten-thousands orders, namely RC4 and RC5 are not provided with stop segments 460 because in the present instance stop operations are not carrie beyond the first three orders of the registering device or, in other words, no provision is made for stopping the machine to count more than 999 consecutive numbered detail. cards. Similarly, the highest denominational order unit of the registering device RC6 is provided neither with stop segments 460 nor carry segments 4% inasmuch as there is no higher denominational order unit to which carry operations may be extended.

A window 462 (Fig. 3) is disposed on the inclined front'wall 4 of the casing or housing 400 in register with the indicia carrying surface ,of each cup-shaped member 420 and the various indicia 424 are visible through these windows,

various electromagnets for the respective units and a common segment or ring 456 labeled COM,

all of the just described segments being designed for cooperation with the pair of read-out brushes was.

- Upon rotation of the rotor 430 the two readout brushes 436 travel over the ten read-out seg- 4l6 being labelled CMl, CMZ, Chit, OM 5, 0M5 and 0M6 (see Figs. 3, 5 and 13).

Each magnet 4" is suitably supported in a.

bracket 464 (see Figs. 3 and .5) and has asso-' a shiftable pawl 412 designed for engagement.

with the ratchet wheel, 444. The pawl 412 is of the presetting type, that is to say, upon energize.-

tion of the electromagnet 4!! it is moved bodily which are adapted to be selectively connected to the similar .punch magnet jacks J4A, J4, etc.,-

\ to J43 in orderthat serial number punchingmay take placein any desired selected card column.

Referring, now to Fig. 12, the orresponding commutator segments 454 or the various units Mt are all electrically connected together in common as shown in that portion of the drawing.

a corresponding segment 488 in a stationary com- 1 mutator 489 of an emitter EM of conventional design and having a rotor 490 carrying a contact brush 49! designed for successive engagement with the various segments 488. The segments 488 to which common connections are made have been labeled ii, -l,-2, 3. etc., to 9. The rotor 490 is electrically connected to one of a pair of contacts 20BU,- from which contacts electrical im-' pulses are applied to the emitter EM at the proper point in the machine cycle fortransmission therethrough and through the various units 8 for proper punch operation at. the desired time. The

rotor 49!! is adapted to bedriven in timedjrelation to the movement of cards through the machine and, toward thisend, it maybe mounted upon wiring diagrams tor the two modified forms of the serial numbering devices are shown, these upwardly and in so moving it slides over one of the teeth on the ratchet wheel'4t4 and engages the intervening space between this tooth and its predecessor under the influence of a spring tl i. Upondeenergization of the magnet Ml, the pawl 412 is moved bodily downward to index the registering devicestlfi. A stationary plate tilt cooperates with a cam surface Mt on the pawl M2- to insure positive engagement of the pawl with the teeth of the ratchet wheel W4; A holding pawl 48b pivoted as at 482 to astationary part of the a thereof during the presetting operation of the pawl 472. Referring now-to Figs. push buttons 486 are situated in r R L. cent along the lower edge of the-inclined front wall or panel portion 4114 of the casing Mt. These push buttons 486 'are'labeled in Fig. 12 PM, 2, "P83, P34, P35 and PBS, and correspond respectively to the various magnets till labeled CME, CM2, CM3; CM4, 0M5 and'ClVIS, whose energization they control. The ush buttons 486 are individ ually employed for resetting purposes, as will be described presently.

Referring now to Figs. l2 and 13, wherein the diagrams are somewhat similar in their nature.

The wiring diagram of Fig. 12 pertains to one form of the invention wherein the push buttons 486on the front panel 414 are selectively and filo individually operated for manually setting the 3 and 4., a plurality or all of the registering units 6 to their zero indication. That portion of the wiring diagram of Fig. 12 which exists above the horizontal broken line A--A, is common-to both modifications of the invention although it has not been included in Fig. 13 and it illustrates the various read-out circuits for the read-out or registering devices die.

Referring now specifically to Fig. 12, when it is desired that successive cards H existing in the hopper P of Fig. 2 shall have numerically progressing serial numbers applied thereto as they are otherwise punched at the punching station by the punches it, the start hey'ST is depressed and circuits previously described become effective to operate the perforating machine, including the punching mechanism thereof, and to feed cards from the hopper P. At the seventh'or eighth index point in the first machine cycle (see Fig. i i), depending upon the presence or absence of a card inthe hopper P, the card lever DCL (see Figs. 2 and 10) which is located directly ahead of the punching station, is operated and serves to close the pair of contacts DCI, thus completing a circuit from the line 2! through contacts DCi, magnets M3, M2, wire 202, to the line 200. The pair of contacts DCI remain closed throughout the remainder of the cycle and through subsequent machine cycles as long as cards are fed to the punching station without interruption. Shortly after the thirteenth index point in the cycle (Fig.15), a pairof cam control contacts C8 which are operated from the shaft iii (Fig. 1) become closed and the magnet M20 (Figs. 10.- and 12) is caused to shunt the already energized series arrangement of magnets M2, M3, thus energizing it also. A holding circuit for the magnet M20 is established from the line 20! through wire 223, contacts 3AU now closed,

' contacts 20A under control of the magnet M20,

the magnet M20 itself, and wire 202 to line 200. The magnets M2, M3 and M20 remain energized as long as cards continue to be fed and until such time as the pair of contacts DCI become again opened under the influence of the card lever DCL.

During the ensuing cycle of machine operations, while a second card is being fed through the machine, the first card passes through the punching station and is operated upon by the punches l8 in the manner previously described to apply to the card data obtained from mastercards undergoing sensing ahead of the detail card whose punching operation it controls. For serial punching purposeswherein six-digit, numbers may be punched in the successive detail cards with the numbers being arithmetically advanced one unit for each card punched'so that all of the cards have applied thereto consecutively numbereddata, the circuit arrangement shown in'Fig. 12 is utilized. At the commencement of the seventh index point in the cycle, as shown in Fig. 14, the cam controlled contacts P become closed, thus completing a circuit irom the line 20! through the contacts P5, plug board jacks PSN which are removably connected by a plug wire, contact 20BL now closed, wire 500; normally closed contacts of the ,units digit push buttonPBl. mutate CMI, normally closed contacts.

I8A, X-master position of the switch XS to the line 200. It is to be noted at this point that the switch XS just referred to is interposed in the line existing between the contacts l0AU and the line 200 and is an addition to the circuit diagram for the perforating machine shown in my prior patent above referred to. This switch is designed to accommodate the X-master and X- detail control for the serial numbering device wherein the master cards are identified by the presence of an X-perforation in a selected col umn or the absence of such a perforation, as previously described. Upon establishment of the circuit just described, the magnet CMI becomes energized (Figs. 3 and 12) and the pawl 412 of the units registering device 6 becomes preset. When the pair of contacts P5 become open shortly after the commencement of the thirteenth index point in the cycle deenergization of the magnet CMI permits the spring-pressed pawl to index the unit registering device once so that during the third and following machine cycle the second detail card existing in the punching station will have applied thereto a serial number whose units digit is one unit higher than the figure for which the various registering devices comprising the counter mechanism was originally set, and which figure was initially applied to the first detail card passing through the machine.

During the first machine cycle, the magnet CMi was unable to receive an impulse near the end of the cycle by virtue of the fact that the contacts 20BL had not become closed at the time of closing of the contacts P5. The circuit just described passing through the contacts 20BL is completed during the latter part of each machine cycle'upon closing of the contacts P5, thus causing each succeeding detail card to have applied thereto by the various punches I8 a serial number which is one unit higher than the serial number applied to the preceding detail card.

In order to eflect carry operations when the units digit registering device 6 passes from 9" to "0," it is obvious that the next succeeding energization of the circuit passing through the contacts P5 and 20BL must, in addition to presetting the pawl 412 of the units registerd device, also preset the pawl of the tens digit registering device. Toward this end, when the units digit registering device is positioned so that the indicia9 appears behind the window 462, and the circuit leading to the corresponding punch magnets PM are closed by the read-out devices, one or the other of the pair of brushes 0 bridges and establishes electrical contact between the two commutator segments 458 (see Fig. 7). In such an instance, the previously described circuit existing through the cam controlled contacts P5 of Fig. 12 again become eflective to energize the magnet CMI, but additionally a second and parallel circuit exists from the line 202 through the contacts P5, plug board jacks PSN, contacts 20BL, wire 500, segments 458 or the units digit carry commutator which are bridged by the brushes 0, wire 50L key control contacts PB2, magnet CM2, normally closed contacts 10A, X-master side 0! the switch XS to line 200. The simultaneous energization of the units and tens digit-representing magnets CMI and 0M2 respectively presets the detail cards.

, aavmoi thousands and ten-thousands or ten-thousands and hundred-thousands registering units 415, similar carry circuits are provided and are closed by the brushesflll or the various commutator rotors 430 which placegthree, four or more energized carry circuits in parallel. The hundredthousands digit-representing registering device I, label CC in Fig; 12, is not provided with carry commutator segments inasmuch as no higher'digital order exists in the serial numbering sys tem.

For straight gang punching utilizing a single master card at the bottom of a stack of detail cards in the hopper P, the serial number registering devices 6 advance one unit or number for each card that is fed from the hopper. However, for successive gang punching operations wherein a series of master cards are interspersed at various positions between adjacent detail cards, as previously outlined, so that repetitive information may be punched in successive groups of detail cards at intervals, means are provided whereby serial number punching may be disabled or''- suppressed when a master card is encountered. In such an instance, the serial number registering device 6 will not be advanced until an encountered master card has passed through the punching station and the succeeding detail card is in position for punching. Thus, the detail cards in the successive groups thereof will have applied thereto an uninterrupted sequence of serial numbers.

The master cards which for successive gang punching of groups of detail cards are interspersed between the groups of such cards are, in certain instances, identified as X-master cards when a special perforation, commonly referred to as an X-periora'tion, appears in a selected column, such an X-perforation being absent in the detail cards. In other instances, the master cards are identified by the absence of such a special or X-perforation in a selected column with these special perforations being present in all of the The present serial numbering apparatus is designed to accommodate both types of control which are known as X-master control and X-detail control respectively. When the switch XS of Fig. 11 is set to its X-master posi' tion, as shown in full lines, a special or X-perforation encountered by the special sensing brush Ill (Figs. 2 and 10) indicates the presence of a master card in the sensing station. In the manner previously described, punching of repetitive information into such an encountered master card is prevented, since it is desired to use that particular master card to supply repetitive information of a different nature to a new roup or stack of detail cards. The master card thus encountered will not be punched by virtue of the transferring of the contacts IOAU (Fig. 11) upon energizing of the magnet M l 0.

When a master card identified by a special perioration in the X-column' of position thereof P s rough the sensing station immediately before punching operations take place, such of foration in the card, switch PMS, contacts 3A now closed under the control of the magnet M3, wire 233, magnets M" and M", bar 234 and wire 235to the 1ine720ll. Magnets Mill and MH upon thus becoming energized become locked by virtue of a holding circuit leading through the pair of 7 contacts IDA (Fig. 10) and existing from the line 2M, wires 229 and 231, contacts P2, wire236, contacts "IA, magnets MID and MI I, bar 234 and wire 235 to the line 200. This holding circuit just described remains in force until opening of the pair of cam controlled contacts P2 shortly after the commencement of the ninth index point in the cycle in the following cycle. The magnets MI!) and MH are thus energized immediately prior to movement of the master card to the punching station and they remain energized until the master card leaves the punching station.-

Upon closing of the pair of contacts MB (Fig. 12), a circuit is completed from the line 2M, contacts C4 closed at this time, wire 505, contacts HBU, magnet Mia to line 200. Such energization of the magnet Mld occurs immediately upon closing of the contacts liBU at a point nearing commencement of the tenth index point in the cycle and deenergization of the magnet Mi 8 takes place immediately upon opening of the contacts C4, at a point existing shortly after the commencement of, the thirteenth index point in the cycle. The position of the various serial numbering registering devices are .not altered at this time, inasmuch as the respective magnets CMl, CM2, etc., are already energized and are awaitlng deenergization for the next successive indexing operation.

During the next cycle, when the master card is passing through the punching station, the

magnet Mll remains energized, as previously I described, so that when the pair of cam con- 2M, through contacts Cd, wire 5%, contacts lElB,

magnet MW to the line car, until the pair of contacts C4 open midway between the thirteenth and fourteenth index points in the cycle. The energization of the magnet M88 from a. point midway between the fifth and sixth index points i in the machine cycle to a, point shortly after the magnets CMI, CM2, CM3, CM4, CM5 or CMB as are conditioned for energization, by virtue of the setting of the carry brush in the registering devices, are energized at the commencement of the seventh index point in the cycle, thus preparing .the counters for the next card to be serially punched. Slightly later in the-cycle, contacts C5 become closed to complete a circuit from the line 2M, contacts .05, wire 230, contact bar 23l, bar 232, brush I'I- 'IIOW in register with the special percommencement of the thirteenth index point in the cycle, during which time the master card passes through the pimching station, serves to prevent indexing of the registering devices when the pair of contacts P5 become closed. Closure of the contacts P5 at this time fails to produce energization of the respective magnets CMI (2M2, etc., by virtue of the fact that the contacts IBA are transferred from their normal position and the magnet circuits therefor no longer exist. Upon arrival of the next detail card at the punching station, the normal perforating machine circuits previously described will permit the serial number for which the registering devices 6 are set to be punched in the card since this number is. the number to which the registering units were previously advanced near the end of the last card punching cycle.

For conditions of X-detail control, when utilizing master cards that are characterized by the absence of a special perforation in the selected column thereof and where the special perfora- ,tions appear in the selected columns of detail cards, the switch XS (Fig. 11) is shifted to its X-detail position. As a detail card passes under the sensing brush I! immediately prior to the cycle during which it is punched, the magnets MIO and MH are energized immediately prior to commencement of the tenth index point in the cycle upon establishing of the circuit previously described. Closure of the pair of contacts HBU (Fig. 12) causes energization of the magnet Ml8 at a point near the commencement of the tenth index point in the cycle. Such energization of the magnet M|8 is brief, however, since it becomes deenergized at a point midway between the thirteenth and fourteenth index points in the cycle when the contacts C4 become open, as previously described. This last mentioned brief energization of the magnet MI8 is without effect, but the fact that the magnets MI and MH remain energized into the next cycle renders the magnet MIB effective from a point midway between the fifth and sixth index points in the machine cycle to a point midway between the thirteenth and fourteenth index points in the machine cycle and at such time as the pair of cam controlled contacts Cl become closed. With the switch XS in its X-detail position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 11, the magnet circuit for the registering device is complete during that portion of the machine cycle in whicha detail card passes through the punching station. The circuit exists from the line 20l (Fig. 12), through the pair of contacts P5 which close at the commencement of the seventh index point in the cycle, plug board jacks PSN connected,

contacts BL, wire 500, the normally closed push button contacts PBI, units counter, magnet CMI, normally open but now transferred contacts IBA, wire 508, X-detailside of the switch XS (Fig. 11) to line 200. It will be seen, therefore, that near the end of the card punching cycle such counter magnets as'are conditioned for energization are energized, thus presetting respective registering units 6 preparatoryto punching the next detail card with a serial numher. The magnet Ml8 will become energized during each cycle at the proper time for register-advancing purposes as long as an uninterrupted series of detail cards pass to the punching station.

When a master card is encountered, the perforation appearing'in the selected X-column thereof conditions the above described circuits so that the registering device is indexed for unit progression. As the detail card leaves the'punching station the master card subsequently passes through the punching station but is not punched for reasons previously outlined and because of the absence of an X-perforation in this card. Inasmuch as the magnets M10 and Mll arenot energized when the master cards pass under the sensing brushes, the magnet MI8 remains deenergized during the time that a register-advancing impulse would ordinarily occur late in the machine cycle and during passing of the master card through the punching station. With the switch X8 in its X-detail position, the contacts I8A must transfer from the position shown in Fig. 12 in order for completion of an impulse .magnet CMI, normally closed contacts ing cycle, it having already been punched with the serial number to which the registering device had advanced near the close of the last card punching cycle.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 12, means are provided whereby, utilizing the push buttons PBI, PB2, P133, P34, P35 and PBS, the individual and respective registering units 6 may each be set to any desired reading for subsequent read-out purposes when cards are passed through the perforating machine. Thus, serial numbering may commence with any desired number.-' For resetting purposes, and with the perforating machine inoperative and the switch XS set to its .master position, any one of the push buttons may be depressed to control the indexing of its respective registering device. Means are also provided for interrupting carry functions during such resetting operations in order that each push button will effect indexing of its own respective registering device and no other. For illustrative purposes, assuming that the push button PBI corresponding to the registering device RCI which represents the lowest digital order of a serial number is depressed, the resetting circuit for this latter degistering device extends from line 2M (Fig. 11), wire 509, normally open contacts of the push button switch PB! now closgd, I A, X-master side of of the switch'XS to line 2". Upon closing of the circuit just described, the magnet CMI becomes energized and the registering device RCI becomes preset, as previously described, so that upon releasing of the push button switch FBI and opening of the circuit, the unit registering device is advaI-ced one unit. Subsequent depression of the push button switch FBI causes a repetition of the process until the desired indicia is visible in the window 462. The other higher digital orders of the registering device may be reset to any desirednumber in a'similar manner utilizing the corresponding push buttons The normally closed contacts of the various push button switches, which become open when the push buttons are V depressed, interrupt the previously described carry circuits existing through the carry'brushes I so that each circuit is complete in itself and the operator does not have to takeinto account carryoperations when resetting the registering device. In order that electrical interpretation of the position of each movable unit lli of the counter registering device may take place and actuation and the punch magnet jacks JlA, J4, etc. If

then, for example, the registering unit ll corresponding to the units digit of a desired serialnumber is set to indicate the numeral "6 and its respective plug board jack PJ I I is connected to the plug board jack J4A in Fig. 11, a circuit exists from the line 20! (Fig. 11), through the pair of contacts CIS which close at each cycle division under the influence of the impulse distributor wheel 28, cardlever contacts PCI now closed,

- wire 225,,cam controlled contacts Pl now closed,

wire 510, contacts IIIBU now closed, emitter rotor 490, emitter segment 8 labeled "6", commutator segment 454 of the registering unit RCI labeled 6, common segment 456, plug board jack PJ ll, plug wire not shown, jack JlA (Fig. 11), punch magnet PM, normally closed contacts IIIAU, contacts I2B, X-master side of the switch XS to line 200. Energizationof the punch magnet PM at the proper time in the machine cycle causes per- {oration in the detail card existing at the punching station with a hole representing the numeral 6 in the card and in the selected column thereof. The remainingcolumns of the card may be punched in a similar manner.

The serial numbering apparatus, in addition to its use as a control for the various punches I! by means of which the serial numbers are applied to the cards, is capable of use as a card counting apparatus and toward this end means are provided for automatically stopping the perforating machine when a predetermined number of cards have been fed and operated upon by the usual data punching instrumentalities. However, when the apparatus is so used its normal serial punching operations are disabled and the punches l8 may operate only intheir normal manner for reproducing data appearing in the master or other control cards. When used in this latter manner as an automatic stop for the perforating machine, the plug wire connecting the two jacks PSN (Fig. 12) remains in place and an additional plug wire is removably inserted between the two plug board jacks SJ. At the same time, the readout plug wires extending from the plug board jacks PJIO, PJII, PJI2, etc., to the plug board jacks JIA, J4, etc., are removed so that no read out functions may be attempted. For illustrative purposes, circuit arrangements are shown whereby the machine may be stopped when any number of cards less than one-thousand have been passed through the perforating machine, the specific number being determined by the operator who manually sets a number equal to the thousands complement of the number of cards to be counted into the three lowest digital orders of the registering device, while at the same time settingthe remaining higher orders to their zero indications. Thus, for example, the machine may-be conditioned to permit one-hundred twenty-three cards to pass through the perforating machine and thereafter stop the machine by setting the three lowest digital orders of the registering device to 1,000 minus 123 or, in other words, 877. It has previously been described how automatic setting of these registering devices to a desired figure may be obtained by operation of the push buttons PBl, PB! and PB3 and such use thereof is resorted to in setting the registers for automatic machine stopping functions;

Automatic stopping of the machine under the control of the units, tens and hundreds units of the registering device is performed by means of a sensing operat on utilizing the previously described carry brushes 0 and the pair of previously described stop segments which are mounted in the commutator 452. These latter segments are so positioned in the commutator that they are bridged by a pair of carry brushes 0 when the units digit-representing registering but serial numbers are not applied to'the cards -gized in the usual manner.

because no plug wires are provided for punching purposes. Furthermore, the numbers appearing in the register are complements which are gradually diminished by a repeated additive process. Near the end of the first machine cycle the card lever DCL of Fig. 10 closes its pair of contacts DCI upon engagement by the first card in the series and the magnets M2 and M3 become ener- Shortly after the thirteenth index point in the same cycle the magnet M20 becomes energized and the pair of contacts ZOBL of Fig. 12 close at a time which is too late for an impulse to proceed from the pair of contacts P5, through the normally closed contacts of the push button switches, to whatever register controlling magnets would Ordinarily be conditioned to rece ve such an impulse. At the commencement of the second index point in the next cycle when the first card has moved into the punching station the register controlling magnets are energized for the first time by the usual impulsing circuit leading from line 20: through the cam controlled pair of contacts P5, plug jacks PSN, contacts 20BL, wire 500, push button switch PBI, magnet CMI, normally closed contacts 18A, wire 508, X-master side of the switch XS to line 200. This latter magnet CM! is energized each cycle thereafter and carry operations take place in the usual manner. When the one-hundred twenty-first card reaches the punching station, the last impulse delivered to the register-controlling magnets leaves the register reading at 87'? plus 121 or, in other words, 9% at the end of the cycle. Once each cycle during th s building-up process, wherein the register approaches its final reading, the pair of cam controlled contacts C5 close in an attempt to complete what may be termed a testing impulse through the circuit, but it is not until the cycle following the passage of the one-hundred twenty-first card i. e. when the one-hundred twenty-second card arrives at the punching station), that this test ng impulse can effect completion of the circuit. As the one hundred twenty-second card arrives at the punching station, the register stands at a reading of 998 and the stop sensing commutators flfifl of the hundreds, tens and units register are so disposed that in each case a pair of carry brushes Ml] will bridge the stop sensing segments. Under such conditions, a sensing circuit exists from the line 20!, through the now connected plug board jacks SJ, cam controlled contacts C5 which are closed from a point midway between the eighth and ninth index points in the cycle to a point midway between the ninth and tenth index points in the cycle, wire 5H), stop segments 460 of the units digit-representing register ng device which are now bridged by a pair of brushes Mil, wire 5| i, stop sensing segmentsdiifl of the tens d git-representing registering dev ce which are a so bridged by a pair of brushes M0, wire 5i2, stop sensing segments 480 of the hundreds digit-representing registering device which are bridged by a pair of brushes 0, wire 5i3, magnet Mi9 to l ne 200.

Upon energization of the magnet MIQ in the usual course of mach ne operations, the pair of contacts 193 f Fig. 10) which control the holding circuits for the magnets MI and MRM become o en and these latter m gnets beome deenergzed allowing the contacts i8 and MRC to open. C nsequently, the circuit which passes through the motor M and the circuit leading to the pun h clutch magnet PCM become open. thus stoppin the ma hine at the end of the last cycle during which an indexing impulse is carried to any of the which are conditioned to receive it. At this point,

the perforating machine will stand with the onehundred twenty-third card poised for passage to the punching station, while the registering device will stand at a reading of 999 as a result of the impulse received immediately prior to stopping of the machine. The operator may now remove any remaining cards from the hopper P and by manually depressing the start key ST allowing the machine to make three complete cycles, all of the cards previously fed from the hopper P into the machine will pass'to the stacker l3, the onehundred twenty-third card being the last to so pass.

During the first of these manually controlled card feed-out cycles, the magnet Ml (Fig. remains energized inasmuch as cards still remain in the perforating machine and the card lever DCL maintains its contacts DCI closed, while at the same time the pair of cam controlled contacts C1 remain closed to hold the magnet M energized a slightly longer period of time. Upon opening of the pair of contacts Cl at a point midway between the ninth and tenth index points in the cycle, the magnet Ml0 becomes deenergized and remains so until new cards are fed to themachine. Because of the fact that the contacts 20BL are closed during the first manual feed-out cycle, an impulse reaches the registercontrolling magnets through the circuit previously described leading through the pair of cam controlled contacts P5. With the normal carry circuits in effect, the register would thus advance from a reading of 999, which was its reading at the time the machine ceased operation, to 1,000 following the first manual card ejecting cycle. Subsequent manual card ejecting cycles would ordinarily advance the registering device to 1,001 and finally to 1,002, but due to the presence of the pair of contacts I9BL (Fig. 12) in the carry circuit between the hundreds and thousands re ister units normal carrying operations between these two units is prevented, so that only the first manual card ejecting cycle is effective and causes the register to move to a final position at which its reading is 000000. The contacts IBBL are open at'the time of the carry impulse between the tens and hundreds register units by virtue of the fact that the magnet Ml9 becomes energized slightly before the machine ceases to operate and establishes a holding circuit through the pairs of contacts IBAU and 20AU which re main closed until the magnet M20 becomes deenergized at the time of opening of the pair of cam controlled contacts C! midway between the ninth and tenth index points in the cycle- During the two last card-ejecting cycles, the register controlling magnets receive no further impulses due to the deenergized condition of the magnet M20. Thus, at the conclusion of all operations the registering device stands at its 000000 reading and one-hundred twenty-three punched cards will have passed to the stacker II, this being the desired card counting object or result.

In instances where it is desired to stop the machine when less than one-hundred cards are passed through the perforating machine, the time-consuming operations required to set up the hundreds units of the registering device to an indication of 9 may be dispensed with by bridging the plug board jacks SSI and SS2 of Fig. 12 with a plug wire and removing the plug wire existing between the plug jacks 'I'Hl and THZ. Un-

der such conditions. it is only necessary for the operator to set up in the register a two-digit or hundreds complement for the selected number of cards. For example, in order to stop the machine after twenty-five cards have been passed through the machine, the one-hundred complement of twenty-five, namely seventy-five, would be set into the machine rather than the onethousand complement of twenty-five, which would be nine-hundred seventy-five, were not the hundreds wheel eliminated by the insertion of the plug wire between the plug jacks SS! and SS2. The automatic stopping operations of the machine remain substantially the same as above with the exception that the sensing impulse afforded by the carry brushes 0 are completed when the register stands at a position of 98 instead of at a position of 998. This condition is made possible by virtue of the fact that the plug wire extending between the jacks SS! and SS2 afiords a path for current around the stop seg-- ments 460 of the hundreds registering unit so that the position of this latter unit is without effect on the carry sensing impulse. The plug wire extending between the plug boardjacks TH! and 'I'H2 is removed to break the carry circuit between the tens and hundreds digit-representing units so that the first manual card run-out cycle after the machine has stopped will result in a register advancing operation wherein the register advances from a reading of 000099 to 000000, instead of to 000100.

Referring now to Fig. 13, wherein a modification of the improved serial numbering device apparatus is shown, means are incorporated in this form of the invention whereby the various registering units 4 I 6', labeled CCI, C02, (303, etc, may rapidly be reset to their zero indication by the simple expedient of manually depressing a reset key. The mechanical and electrical features of this modified form of the invention differ somewhat from those of the form of the invention just described and among the more important existing differences between the two forms of the invention is the elimination of the segment-bridging carry brushes 4150', together with the carry segments therefor and the substitution therefor of a transfer contact type of carry arrangement, such substitution being necessitated by the employment of the automatic resetting instrumentalities. The basic system of accumulating as previously described, however, remains substantially the same. The normal functions of the apparatus with respect to the electrical read-out circuits existing for the purpose of punch operations are likewise not altered, while the automatic stopping feature described in detail in connection with the other form of the invention also exists in substantially the same form.

In Fig. 13, similar characters of reference to those employed in Fig. 12 are utilized for convenience of description and in order that similar electrical instrumentalities and circuit functions between the two modifications of the invention may readily be perceived. Many of these instrumentalities are not referred to in the following description to avoid repetition.

As in the other form of the invention, the accumulating circuit becomes effective upon closure of the contacts 20BU, whereupon each time the pair of cam controlled contacts P5 become closed a circuit exists from the line 20I through the connected plug board jacks PSN, contacts P5, contacts 20BU, wire 520, wire 52 I, normally closed 

